Witches descend upon downtown Homewood for annual shopping event

Homewood Business Association Executive Director Allisa Opyd vowed to stock up on Witches’ Night Out shopping bags next year. The 75 bags she started with Thursday, Oct. 17, for the annual Halloween-themed event were gone in 45 minutes.

Sporting a witch's hat with flowing star-studded veil, Thandie Nee, left, talks with Homewood Business Association Executive Director Allisa Opyd during Witches' Night Out on Oct. 17. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle) — Sporting a witch’s hat with flowing star-studded veil, Thandie Nee,
left, talks with Homewood Business Association Executive Director
Allisa Opyd during Witches’ Night Out on Oct. 17.
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

Amy Donkel-Rohne, left, and Miriam Panozzo describe how they built their witches' hats for Witches' Night Out in Homewood. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle) — Amy Donkel-Rohne, left, and Miriam Panozzo describe how they built their witches’ hats for Witches’ Night Out in Homewood.
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

She noted that the beautiful weather helped bring a good crowd downtown, with a clear sky and temperature about 60 degrees when the event began at 5 p.m. on Martin Square. That made it a pleasant evening for local men and women decked out in witchy finery to stroll through the 14 businesses participating in the event.

In addition to specials at businesses, shoppers who dressed for the occasion were invited to take a selfie by a crescent moon backdrop, then post it to the HBA’s Instagram page to be entered in a Best Witch’s Hat contest.

Terrianna Rowe, co-owner of Blue Pearl Candles, shows off her new witches' hat during Witches' Night Out, sponsored by the Homewood Business Association. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle) — Terrianna Rowe, co-owner of Blue Pearl Candles, shows off her new witches’ hat during Witches’ Night Out, sponsored by the Homewood Business Association. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

A trio of witches' hats indicate shoppers perusing items in Loulou Belle Boutique during Witches' Night Out in Homewood on Oct. 17. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle) — A trio of witches’ hats indicate shoppers perusing items in Loulou Belle Boutique during Witches’ Night Out in Homewood on Oct. 17.
(Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)

Opyd said the HBA executive board would meet this week to review the entries and select and announce the winner.

Participating businesses included Anjel’s Boutique, Art 4 Soul, Art Corner Frames, Blue Pearl Candle, Gaia’s Market & Refillery, Loulou Belle, The Ridgewood, The Rock Shop, Stoney Point Grill, Twisted Q BBQ, The Village Door, The Villager Gift Shop, Upsa Daisy and Van Sipma’s Jewelers.